1961 Nippon Professional Baseball season
The 1961 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the twelfth season of operation of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Regular season
Standings
| Team | G | W | L | T | Pct. | GB |
| Nankai Hawks | 140 | 85 | 49 | 6 | .629 | — |
| Toei Flyers | 140 | 83 | 52 | 5 | .611 | 2.5 |
| Nishitetsu Lions | 140 | 81 | 56 | 3 | .589 | 5.5 |
| Daimai Orions | 140 | 72 | 66 | 2 | .521 | 15.0 |
| Hankyu Braves | 140 | 53 | 84 | 3 | .389 | 33.5 |
| Kintetsu Buffaloes | 140 | 36 | 103 | 1 | .261 | 51.5 |
Postseason
Japan Series
League leaders
Central League
| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
| Batting average | Shigeo Nagashima | Yomiuri Giants | .353 |
| Home runs | Shigeo Nagashima | Yomiuri Giants | 28 |
| Runs batted in | Takeshi Kuwata | Taiyo Whales | 94 |
| Runs | Toshio Naka | Chunichi Dragons | 88 |
| Hits | Shigeo Nagashima | Yomiuri Giants | 158 |
| Stolen bases | Kazuhiko Kondo | Taiyo Whales | 35 |
| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
| Wins | Hiroshi Gondo | Chunichi Dragons | 35 |
| Losses | Masaaki Koyama | Hanshin Tigers | 22 |
| Earned run average | Hiroshi Gondo | Chunichi Dragons | 1.70 |
| Strikeouts | Hiroshi Gondo | Chunichi Dragons | 310 |
| Innings pitched | Hiroshi Gondo | Chunichi Dragons | 429 |
Pacific League
| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
| Batting average | Isao Harimoto | Toei Flyers | .336 |
| Home runs | Katsuya Nomura Yoshihiro Nakata | Nankai Hawks Hankyu Braves | 29 |
| Runs batted in | Kazuhiro Yamauchi | Daimai Orions | 112 |
| Runs | Akio Saionji | Toei Flyers | 97 |
| Hits | Kihachi Enomoto | Daimai Orions | 180 |
| Stolen bases | Yoshinori Hirose | Nankai Hawks | 42 |
| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
| Wins | Kazuhisa Inao | Nishitetsu Lions | 42 |
| Losses | Toshiaki Tokuhisa | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 24 |
| Earned run average | Kazuhisa Inao | Nishitetsu Lions | 1.69 |
| Strikeouts | Kazuhisa Inao | Nishitetsu Lions | 353 |
| Innings pitched | Kazuhisa Inao | Nishitetsu Lions | 404 |
Awards
- Most Valuable Player
- *Shigeo Nagashima, Yomiuri Giants
- *Katsuya Nomura, Nankai Hawks
- Rookie of the Year
- *Hiroshi Gondo, Chunichi Dragons
- *Toshiaki Tokuhisa, Kintetsu Buffaloes
- Eiji Sawamura Award
- *Hiroshi Gondo, Chunichi Dragons
| Position | Player | Team |
| Pitcher | Hiroshi Gondo | Chunichi Dragons |
| Catcher | Masahiko Mori | Yomiuri Giants |
| First baseman | Katsumi Fujimoto | Hanshin Tigers |
| Second baseman | Masataka Tsuchiya | Kokutetsu Swallows |
| Third baseman | Shigeo Nagashima | Yomiuri Giants |
| Shortstop | Akiteru Kono | Chunichi Dragons |
| Outfielder | Kazuhiko Kondo | Taiyo Whales |
| Outfielder | Shinichi Eto | Chunichi Dragons |
| Outfielder | Katsuji Morinaga | Hiroshima Carp |
| Position | Player | Team |
| Pitcher | Kazuhisa Inao | Nishitetsu Lions |
| Catcher | Katsuya Nomura | Nankai Hawks |
| First baseman | Kihachi Enomoto | Daimai Orions |
| Second baseman | Nobuyasu Morishita | Nankai Hawks |
| Third baseman | Futoshi Nakanishi | Nishitetsu Lions |
| Shortstop | Yasumitsu Toyoda | Nishitetsu Lions |
| Outfielder | Kazuhiro Yamauchi | Daimai Orions |
| Outfielder | Kenjiro Tamiya | Daimai Orions |
| Outfielder | Isao Harimoto | Toei Flyers |